Heat can now welcome player guests into NBA bubble. And reactions to passing of John Thompson
Monday is a big day for the Miami Heat.
Not only does the Heat begin its second-round playoff series against the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday, but it also marks the first day NBA player guests can clear quarantine and enter the Disney bubble. Each second-round playoff team has been allocated 17 hotel rooms for guests, with up to three visitors allowed per player.
The Heat is expecting its first player guests to clear quarantine Monday, with only a few expected to welcome guests this week.
For the group of Heat players reuniting with family and close friends in the coming days at Disney, it will be the first human interaction with them in almost eight weeks since the team arrived at the NBA’s Central Florida campus and began life in the quarantine bubble on July 8.
“These guys are human beings. We are human beings,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “We all feel extremely grateful to have this opportunity to continue to do what we love to do and then, in a bigger picture to be a part of impactful change, from a social-equality and racial-equality standpoint. But the reality of being away from your family for this long a period of time, nobody trains for that, there’s no playbook to that. And everybody manages in a different way. But at some point, it’s going to hit you and it’s going to hit you hard.
“I think it will be a good step that the players will have an opportunity [to have guests join them]. Some of ‘em. Some of ‘em won’t have their families come in. So I think it’s a good thing.”
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski previously reported that non-family members joining players in the bubble must have “longstanding relationships” with those they’re visiting, and prevents “guests who would be deemed as wholly casual in nature, including ‘known by the player only through social media or an intermediary.’”
Players are allowed one ticket per guest per playoff game, according to Wojnarowski. The guests joining players at Disney are essentially replacing the traveling parties of the teams that have already exited the bubble.
NBA coaches and other team personnel don’t have that same opportunity, though. They’re not allowed to bring a guest into the bubble.
“I just think from a human standpoint, I think it’s good for people in the bubble,” Spoelstra said Sunday of player guests. “But can you write something about the staff being allowed to have their family join us? As we speak, I think my family is at the beach right now.”
Coaches and team personnel are not allowed guests because the NBA capped the number of people inside the bubble to help prevent any potential spread of COVID-19. According to ESPN’s The Undefeated, the goal has been to have fewer than 1,500 people on the league’s campus.
But NBA teams have recently been able to add to their traveling parties inside the bubble.
Each team was initially allowed to bring up to 37 people to Disney. But the Heat has since added three staff members to the bubble — senior director of player programs Kenny McCraney to assist with player guests, equipment intern Ryan Powell and an additional massage therapist — who cleared quarantine over the weekend.
“It’s a challenge for everyone and there’s two sides to it also,” Spoelstra said of living in the bubble. “Yes, I miss my family incredibly. But we are also part of something incredibly historic. This is a not a normal world that’s going on. There’s a global pandemic that’s going on. There are places and states and countries that are not open. And we’re able to be in an incredibly safe environment doing what we love to do. Is it a perfect scenario? No. But nothing is at this time and we feel extremely grateful to be a part of this.”
HEAT REACTS TO DEATH OF JOHN THOMPSON
Legendary Georgetown coach John Thompson died at age 78, his family confirmed Monday.
Former Heat center and current team executive Alonzo Mourning played under Thompson for four college seasons at Georgetown.
“The world has lost a revolutionary icon and a leader,” Mourning posted Monday afternoon on Twitter. “Today, I have lost a father figure, life long coach, and one of my greatest mentors. Coach Thompson, saved my life.... continuously motivating and molding me into the man that I am today.
“With all the lives he touched and inspired, the best way to pay homage to him is by celebrating his life, applauding his legacy; and using our voices and actions to serve others.
“Coach; thank you for everything and I will always honor you by paying it forward! I love you. Rest in Peace.”
Heat owner Micky Arison tweeted: “Seems like way too many RIP’s lately. So sorry to hear about coach Thompson such a towering figure and amazing mentor and father figure to many great [NBA] players. R.I.P. coach.”
UD SPEAKS
As the oldest player remaining in the Disney bubble, 40-year-old Heat team captain Udonis Haslem was a very vocal participant in Wednesday night’s players meeting that led to the continuation of the NBA season after boycotts of games.
“I never really planned to say anything. I actually tried to plan to keep quiet,” Haslem said of his approach entering the meeting. “... Nobody really knows what to do in situations like this. So a lot of pain, a lot of suffering, a lot of frustration. But everybody knows that something needs to be done, but nobody really knows what to do. So that night was a rough one. But we figured it out, man.
“Ultimately, I think the huge platform that we have right now in the bubble with the NBA is the best opportunity that we have to bring some sort of justice and continue to spotlight the things that are going on in the world today. Collectively as a unit, when we’re in the bubble, we’re stronger.”
▪ Two Heat players are on the injury report for Game 1 of its second-round series against the Bucks.
Rookie Chris Silva (stress fracture in groin area) is the only Heat player ruled out for Game 1. Fellow rookie Gabe Vincent (sprained right shoulder) is listed as questionable for Monday’s contest.
For the Bucks, the only player on the injury report is starting guard Eric Bledsoe, who is questionable for Game 1 because of a right hamstring strain.
This story was originally published August 31, 2020 at 9:30 AM.
